no place like an empty classroom

So y’all know the Wizard of Oz is my fav. I loved the little posters Mrs. Plum made a few weeks back, but they didn’t have ANY of MY favorite characters on them! plus, I have to teach the traits that we use school-wide. Each month our counselor chooses a character trait to match the time of year. We have to have the poster displayed and I choose {well, the kids vote} on the students of the month based on that trait.

Here’s the issue I have

These are not cute or exciting in any sort of way. I mean, I’m super glad they were given to me, but just not my thing. So…

Cute, huh!? These Melonheadz graphics make my third set of Oz clip art, but they have all sorts of characters my other sets didn’t! In fact, one for each month! I did match the trait to what the character from the movie actually exuded. I thought good and hard about them! And the letters are even red glitter! Can’t beat that with a stick!

For now, no TpT; but they will be up soon! There are 2 sets, one with Yellow Brick Road background, the other with blue and white checkered design.

And, hold on to your seats! I got into school today! I went to sign some PTO checks {cause I’m the secretary, not because I’m that cool} and my two kiddos took off down the hall to my room. I kinda freaked, but the secretary said they were dry! Yippee! We can officially get in tomorrow, but I got a little bit of stuff unloaded. I took nothing out of my closet unless I knew exactly where it was going. I usually drag everything out then all my tables and desks are covered until open house when I throw it all back in the closet. Not gonna happen this year!

new tile. I’m really pleased with how it looks. See that monstrosity to the right. I jacked it from a teacher’s room that left. It’s a set of cubbies that are about 6’ long and 4’ high. No clue what to use them for, but I will steal furniture! It will definitely be covered with contact paper!

I lost one fish. Everything else survived the past 2 weeks without food.

here’s my backseat. This is why I really needed to get in. The trunk was worse. No room for kids!

I only stayed an hour, but the hair had to get out of my face no matter what I had to use! Paperclips are great!

Ready to get dirty tomorrow! We officially go back next Wednesday, so time’s a tickin before meeetings, talking, meetings, and talking

more info please

Sorry about the lack of Words Their Way/Spelling posts. I just returned from my 2 day workshop with THE Fountas and Pinnell. That’s Irene and Gay if you’re tight like us…

I wanted to link up with sweet Amy and tell you about a few of my many quirks. I have a ABOUT page…look up…in my favorite 25 things you didn’t know from US Weekly style, so I will try not to repeat too much.

1. I eat my bananas by taking one bite, then using my finger to split it into thirds right down the middle. I had a childhood friend who did this and it just stuck. And that’s not me in the pic above. I almost took a picture of doing it, but I’m sitting at my kids’ martial arts class so…

2. I love all things Oz. I mean all things. These are my 3 favorite characters-in order. If you’ve read Wicked, you’ll understand. I often feel like Miss Understood, too!

3. I was once locked up in the pen. Okay-it was Alcatraz!

 

4. I love to try to reenact scenes from movies or tv. Here is my best DJ Tanner from Full House in SF and Married with Children at the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago.

5. As you can see above, Mr. Lamb is tall. Or is Mrs. Lamb short? BOTH! He’s got 14” on me! Just like Jennifer’s hubby, too! I’m a whopping 5’1” and he’s only 6’3”

6. I {love} my little sis. She’s 5 years younger and had a lot of health issues when she was born. I colored pictures for her hospital room every.single.day. Then she grew up and I did not like her so much. I mean what Senior likes their 13 year old sis? But now I consider her my bestie. I always try to convince our boys they will be best friends when they grown up. But I guess that’s something you just gotta learn for yourself. and yes, I’d been drinking in that picture…at Wicked! Cut me some slack. I’d just found out I was being put in 2nd grade after 8 years in 4th. I was so sad…now I’m so glad!!

7. We were married at the courthouse. Mr. Lamb left work and I was between 2 classes in college. Our siblings met us there and we then went back to our day! Crazy! It was the best idea ever! I suggest to anyone! I don’t think I could have stood in front of lots of people.

8. I know the words to exactly two songs: Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and Snoop Dogg’s Lottie Dottie

9. I’ve been to quite an potpourri of concerts in my life. I prefer 90’s Alternative to anything else in the world. I think because I listened to it during my “formative” middle school years.

Here they are…don’t judge

Meatloaf and Cheap Trick. this was my first concert ever-I went with my parents

Brandy, Baby Face and Boyz 2 Men-middle school

Marilyn Manson-high school

Collective Soul-high school

Dave Matthews {probably the worst concert I’ve ever been to} He didn’t look like he wanted to be there-high school

   
Goo Goo Dolls {lead singer was practically too drunk to make any sense} Bush and No Doubt pre-Rosdale wedded bliss-high school

Alice in Chains with new singer who truly sounds the SAME-2007

and next up! My Madonna-thins were not spent in vain! November 18 in Charlotte!!! My sis got tickets from her beau and I’m the plus 1. She had best play some Papa Don’t Preach, Vogue, and Open Your Heart!

As you can see, Charlotte, NC has a lot to offer! I Also went to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Weenie Roasts which were basically huge outdoor concerts with big name bands hosted by a local rock station. They were pretty awesome til dumb teenagers started getting hurt and hurting others. I never went back after having babes. But here’s those lineups!

Weenie Roast 1996
September 14, 1996
Blockbuster Pavillion
Spacehog, The Nixons, Self, Lustre, Stabbing Westward, The Verve Pipe, for squirrels, Super 8 Local bands: Major Nelson, Laburnum, Loadstar, Magpies, Hazel Virtue, Running from Anna, Violet Strange, Muscadine, Sugarsmack, Mary Sunshine, Doubting Thomas, Brian Keenan, John O'Gorman

Weenie Roast 1997
September 13, 1997
Blockbuster Pavillion
Hosted by special guest Larry Bud Melman
Faith No More, The Nixons, 7Mary3, Goldfinger, K's Choice, Bloodhound Gang, Gravity Kills, Cowboy Mouth, Kara's Flowers, Leah Andreone, Our Lady Peace, Maypole, Athenaeum

Weenie Roast 1998
September 5, 1998
Blockbuster Pavillion
Creed, Better Than Ezra, Dishwalla, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Athenaeum, Everything, Jolene, Far Too Jones
Read more: http://www.1065.com/pages/weenieroast.html?article=10165714#ixzz21aSy6Av3

10. I hate odd numbers. Thus here’s number 10!

I’ll leave you pondering what kind of person I really am after listing those concerts! And as Mr.Lamb tunes his guitar to Flo Rida’s Whistle!

some real characters

I have busted it to get my Monday Made It finished by today. Then I got a dinnertime call Sunday night from my principal asking if I could fill in at a workshop for another teacher who couldn’t attend. Well, I will jump at a chance to be with real live adults for 2 days! So I accepted. Little did I know what or who I would be seeing!

I will giveaway any item from my store to the first 3 people who can tell me who I saw present today! And no, the gals in the back are me and 2 adorable girls from Indiana! I look quite awkward here…I was a little scared of one of the ladies to be honest…

Now on to the Monday Made It! Here’s the pin from First Grade Glitter and Giggles…love love Marissa’s blog! I just found it a few weeks ago and she {and her teaching partner} have some great stuff!

Source: firstgradeglitterandgiggles.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

 

So see those paintings? I needed them. I pinned them to my “to do” board and that means serious business. I actually do this stuff! So here’s what I’ve got to share today.

first I drew some of my favorite characters. If my kiddos could tell me who they were, I knew they were ok! and yes, those are tattoo designs in the background, but they are for Mr. Lamb!

then I painted them.

and then I outlined them in Sharpie. Everything looks better outlined in Sharpie! plus it adds a little cover-up and it’s ok if it’s not perfect. It adds whimsy…so I tell myself.

I haven’t finished Miss Frizzle yet. She lacks eyebrows, lips, and a funky themed dress {I’m using bug stickers I have at school}. I did the Cat in hot pink rather than red to avoid copyright! haha-not really. I just love apple green and hot pink. Pigeon still needs his other wing. And Lilly needs her tail bow painted. They will all get some ribbon and hang in my library. I LOVE them!

I used 12x12 flat canvas from Michaels. I knew I could just hot glue ribbon to the back and hang. They are also just $10 for a 6 pack. That means I still have two!!

And our Middle Lamb also has a Monday Made it for Tara this week. It seems if I tell him “we’ll do it tomorrow” enough, he’ll do it himself! Here he is mixing homemade clay. He’s obsessed with Minecraft right now. He had me look up how to make clay. He stood on the counter, and pulled down the ingredients! So I had to tell him the recipe at that point! yay for initiative!

ok, now figure out who those ladies are and leave a comment! First three commenters with correct names get anything they’d like! I won’t tell you if you are correct or not until morning to prevent cheaters! =)

Playing catch-up favorite fonts, projects, and books

I love doing series of common topic posts, but I miss out on all the fun stuff sometimes! I am taking a break to join in on some linky parties from these fab bloggers.

Whooo loves fonts?! I do! I’ve done a linky like this before, but my font preferences change with my moods. I am quite moody! Here’s something I HATE though. When I save previews {as in below in ppt picture format} a lot of fonts get cut off….boo! Hopefully you can still see them! And they’re all free cause that’s how I roll

and Miss Nelson also led me to Wordmark.it! Hello!

Next, Amanda’s Favorite class project linky. Honestly I use a lot of hers even when I taught 4th grade. However, my favorite project we do all year is the green screen weather reports. I will post more closer to my unit. But check this out! These are priceless and super easy. I actually did not have access to an actual green screen until this past year. Before I used bulletin board paper!

We watch a lot of weather channel clips, brainstorm what a good report needs using a brace map, then they write a script. I type them up in proper script form and give each partner a copy. They only had the script for 2 days this year! Our tech guy had a last minute change up, but we made do!

And finally, I wanted to link up with Ms. Lindsey because I love picture books. I have my go-to ones I read year after year, and I love finding more ideas. I find so many new ones from your blogs!

Don't let the Pigeon Stay up Late. Love Mo Williems! His books are easy text, but fabulous fun. This is the perfect book for teaching problem and solution! And this little guy is part of my Monday Made It!

{source}

Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger. I’d never have known about this one if it wasn’t for the reading lady! It’s old and tucked away in our public library. I finally got a copy when I got $300 to spend on books this year. Questioning…questioning, questioning, it leaves you with so many!

{source}

Any VanAllsburg book, but The Sweetest Fig is my favorite to read aloud because it’s  just plain crazy! Another great one I use for questioning.

Popcorn  by Frank Asch. This is a childhood favorite. It was in my dentist’s office. I always headed straight for it. I have no idea what the draw is, but I love anything from my childhood. It could be used many ways, but this year I read it in conjunction with Tomie DePola’s Popcorn book.

{source}

Another fun book is Piggie Pie. I first heard this book when our then curriculum specialist helped me host a Mystery Month with my 4th graders. We journeyed to her classroom and she read this aloud. It’s hilarious! And I found out there’s a sequel. Think a mix between The Night Before Thanksgiving and Three Little Pigs.

So that’s catch up! I hope you saw some new book ideas or fonts, or a project you’d like to try!

Spelling MY Way: Sorting and scheduling

I am thrilled with the response to this little WTW series. Though I want to stress, you do not have to USE Words Their Way to meet the needs of your students. You just need to match the level of speller to the correct stage. Just throwing that out there! I know not all schools are lucky enough to have the program, but we can all easily differentiate spelling.
That said; I want to share my schedule and types of sorts I use. I am very set when it comes to what sorts are done when. I think I have finally found a routine that works for me and benefits my students. In just 10 minutes per day or less, I cover spelling instruction. We all have 10 minutes! Somewhere….
There are two types of sorts: open and closed. Same line of thinking as open-ended and close-ended questions. Open sorts are more exploratory. Give them words or objects and let them figure out a way to sort based on common features. Closed sorts are directed. You give the rule, they sort according to that rule. Within closed sorts, WTW names 3 types: alphabetic {long vs. short, etc.} Pattern {oi vs. oy, etc.} and meaning {parts of speech, homophones, etc.} In 2nd grade, the majority of our sorts are alphabetic or pattern based. The further advanced the speller, the more meaning driven word study becomes.

OK, fun with sorting! Like I said, we sort daily. Here is my schedule and a little explanation.

Monday-Copied word cards are on student desks when they enter. I copy them on Friday afternoons. If I was more on top of things, I would have sets already made for the year! Students cut them out and place in word bags.
After everyone arrives, we all get out our cards and lay out the “headers”. Students do an open sort. I walk around and help. Later, during guided reading, I meet with each group and do a group sort with one student’s words. I pass out all the words, lay out the headers, and we take turns saying the word and putting it in the correct column together.
Tuesday-another group sort in small groups with my assistant or myself at the beginning of their guided reading group.
Wednesday-Speed sort as a class. I put the Online Timer on the screen and say START using the large stopwatch feature. As soon as they finish, they record their time on an index card kept in the word bags. We do this 3 times. They are only racing themselves.
Thursday-Speed sort as a class again
Friday-We do No Peeking, or blind sorts. Students find a partner. They exchange word bags {if they are in different groups}. Student 1 calls out the word from the card, student B spells it. If it’s correct they get the card to sort. If not it is put back in the rotation. It’s great practice for the test!
If possible, we sort at the beginning of each guided reading group time.
What are all these sorts that I’m talking about?
Speed Sort
The sorting of words is timed, and repeated until the time it takes to sort the words correctly improves at least twice. Times are recorded in the Word Study Notebook.
Blind Sort or No peeking
This sort is good practice for the actual test. A partner is needed to read each word from the list. Words must be spelled and sorted correctly in the Word Study Notebook without looking at the words.
Written Sort
Word cards are sorted, and the finished sort is written down in the Word Study Notebook.
Buddy Sort
Same as a written sort, but done with a partner who has an answer key.
Here's a little video


Tips
This may all seem impossible. I am the first one to admit it has taken me 9 years to get here. Since I have taught 2nd grade, it just clicked into place! No class changing pressures I guess. But there are some things I do that have made all this possible. You can take it or leave it!
•I do not do guided reading On Mondays. I only meet with spelling groups.
•My reading and spelling groups are often the same. If a student’s spelling level does not correspond with their reading level, they leave the group after we have sorted that day and return to Daily 5.
•I use Ziploc bags for word bags. I have them In the supply center, with index cards, that they have access to if they need a new bag. I have also duct taped the edges of the bags in the past.
•I send home a sorted word list on Monday (freebie template below!). It is sorted into the columns that they are expected to know for the test. I do not assign spelling homework. I leave this up to the parents. Our in-class sorting is enough for me.
My next post will be about organization. Heidi from Second Story Window has graciously agreed to do a guest post! Can’t wait. She's got some awesome ideas!
I also wanted to share all this in one place. I whipped up a little word sort resource pack you can use with any spelling program! It has cards with directions for different games to put in centers, teacher reference page, spelling test templates, anchor charts (that are super dooper cute), and lots of advice, tips, scheduling, etc.

 

Click below for a Word Doc spelling list template. Until later!

A time out to visit district 12

I planned on posting some freebies for word sorts I use in Work on Words, but I took my oldest Lamb to Distract 12 today.

Let me explain.

We live in southeast NC aka District 12 of Panem. I knew the area where the Hunger Games village was filmed was just in the next county over from home, but time was just never on our side. I’d planned on taking Jackson all summer and I just told him to get in the car today and off we went! He had no clue where we were going. It happens to be towards the Brown Mountain Lights and Broughton Mental Hospital {both of which made him a little on edge!}

{top-My little sweet Peeta, bottom-real Peeta}

the last house is the Everdeen home.

As you can see, it’s an honest to goodness abandoned town right off the road! It’s kind of weird.

{this one is obviously Haymitch’s place}

So 10 miles away lies the famed village and I’m just getting around to visiting! And if you are wondering what he thought of the surprise trip…in his words, no kidding…”Mom, these signs say No Trespassing. I bet they are serious.” Seriously. He is such a stickler!

Speaking of the Carolinas…We are having our first blogger meet up! I am so excited! I always feel left out reading about the wonderful fun, food, and gabbing! Visit Hope King’s blog and leave a message if you are in the area on September 15.

Until tomorrow sweet friends. Off to refinance the home! fun, fun!